Ghana has threatened legal action and lodged a formal diplomatic protest after Canada refused to grant a visa to Black Stars midfielder Thomas Partey, preventing one of Africa’s most prominent football stars from entering the country for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The dispute has escalated into a rare diplomatic row between Ghana and one of the tournament’s host nations, with Accra accusing Ottawa of relying on unproven allegations and disregarding the principle of presumption of innocence.
In a strongly worded statement issued by Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the government described Canada’s decision as “high-handed and extremely unfair” and revealed that it had formally protested the move while exploring legal and diplomatic avenues to challenge the refusal.
According to the Ghanaian government, Canadian authorities denied Partey’s temporary residence application on inadmissibility grounds linked to ongoing criminal proceedings in the United Kingdom that have not resulted in a conviction or judicial finding of guilt.
“The Government of Ghana reaffirms the fundamental legal principle of the presumption of innocence, a cornerstone of justice and due process in democratic societies,” the ministry said.
